Q. In the case of Harold Goins, Jr., what is the story of the 1996 crime where he slit the throat of a female defense attorney? I suppose she survived?

A. Harold Goins Jr., recently deemed a violent habitual criminal and sentenced to life in prison following a guilty verdict in a rape case, has two felony assault with a deadly weapon cases on his record, including the 1996 attack of a Wilmington attorney as she left the New Hanover County courthouse.

On May 9, 1996, Sam Ryan was crossing Walnut Street, within 20 feet of her office when Goins grabbed her around the neck and sliced at her throat with a knife.

Only Ryan’s hands, which took the brunt of her attacker’s force, kept her from being seriously cut, according to archived news articles from the StarNews.

Ryan survived the assault and continues to practice law in Wilmington.

4 Responses to “ What is the story of the 1996 crime where Harold Goins Jr. was convicted of slitting the throat of a female attorney?”

On August 7, 2013 at 9:00 pm Conchita maria goinswrote:

It’s so funny that when my uncles name is brought up it’s about what he did in 1996 which he served 15 years for he paid for his crime and tried to come out and be better they found him guilty of rape 4 different medical examiners said she was not raped she waited 6 hours to call the cops the gun was stole before he got out of prison so u know what’s that’s called injustice we are going to sue wilmington oh and why was the lawyer in the courtroom during his trial this time and isn’t her husband a defense attorney And why would you put on the news a day before his trial when they selected jurors not in new Hanover that he slit the lawyers throat so many years ago y didn’t u say he paid for his crime it’s injustice my grandma lost a son my mom lost a brother our family lost a life so please shed light on the whole story not some of it he has daughters and a granddaughter nobody knows his struggle so when u write story’s wirte them with the family in mind thank

On January 21, 2016 at 7:43 pm ken joneswrote:

consecutive life sentences, did someone die

On February 8, 2016 at 12:17 pm edwrote:

With regard to the lawyer attack, I just heard Goins say on TV that he had followed the lawyer for 4 weeks to know of her whereabouts at any moment. Why he slit her throath I dont know

On May 19, 2016 at 11:34 pm Barbiewrote:

I pray For him everyday. Rape huh shit I don’t think that he needs to rape anyone fine as he is. There’s no way in hell. My heart is like uhhhh. I just seen him on TV, he just has anger issues he just needs a little more love in his life. I pray that he gets an appeal or they throw out or shorten his sentence. I think that he deserves another chance. Nobody ain’t die and you don’t have any hard evidence. I wonder if he tries to go to the law library. I don’t see how he could get so many life sentences. I think that he’ll change, give him one more chance. Free Harold Goins

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